Plunkett restored as Yorkshire plot aggressive T20 approach

Liam Plunkett is back in the Yorkshire squad for tomorrow’s Twenty20 opener with Derbyshire after missing the County Championship win over Hampshire due to a disciplinary issue.

Plunkett, who returned from England’s tour of the Caribbean last week, failed to attend last Saturday’s official team photocall and final training session ahead of the Hampshire match and was subsequently dropped for one match.

He returns though into their 13-man squad alongside Andrew Hodd and Richard Pyrah. Young seamer Matthew Fisher is also included.

Overseas signing Glenn Maxwell is due to arrive in Leeds on Sunday night and is set to make his Vikings debut against Notts Outlaws on Friday, May 22, at Trent Bridge.

First-team coach Jason Gillespie said: “Our captain Andrew Gale spoke after our victory in the Emirates T20 Cup in Dubai back in March and said that we will play an aggressive brand of cricket during our NatWest T20 Blast campaign.

“In the final at that tournament, against Sussex, we lost three wickets in an over and we looked doomed, but what was significant is that after the third wicket went down Andrew Hodd came in and took on the bowling and put in a match-winning performance signifying our positive intent and the way we are going to approach T20 cricket.

“We are going to play with no fear and be ultra-positive in every facet of our game.

“The facts are we haven’t been successful in T20. We have only reached finals day once in the history of the competition and for a county of our stature that is simply not good enough.

“This has to change. The old way has gone and we will develop a new mindset and approach to the game. The best approach, we believe, is to go out t and be aggressive and put on a show for the crowd. If we can do that, I’m confident we have the players to go and win as many games as possible.

“Cricket is evolving all the time and the recent 50-over World Cup confirmed that teams are looking to score big runs and be really aggressive. That has shown to the wide reaches of the sport, across all formats, you have to score quickly and be positive. Then nail your skills with the ball and try not to give the opposition any room to get ahead. That’s what I want our lads to do. It is based on all-out attack and to entertain the people that part with their money to come and watch us play.”